Beside them, Mahiru and Kotori stood with their jaws practically hanging open, wide enough to fit an egg, staring dumbfounded at Kaede's bold embrace.
Once the shock wore off, Kotori's face immediately flushed with urgency.
She hurried forward to pry the two apart.
"Kaede, what in the world are you doing?!" Kotori's outburst snapped Kaede back to reality.
Kaede quickly released Yuki, shooting him an apologetic glance with a sheepish stick of her tongue. Then she turned to Kotori, pouting slightly. "Kotori, you're so stingy! It's just a little hug with your brother! Was that really necessary?"
She expressed her displeasure at what she saw as Kotori overreacting.
Kotori, hearing this, just rolled her eyes.
Just a little hug? If only it were that simple!
Kotori had been paying close attention to the look in Kaede's eyes just now. That look was all too familiar—it was exactly the same as the one she herself used to have for her own brother!
Having gone through those feelings herself, Kotori could naturally sense the emotions that might very well be brewing in Kaede's heart.
"He's my onii-chan!" Kotori emphasized, narrowing her eyes slightly as she stared Kaede down.
"I know that!" Kaede replied cheerfully. "But I want an onii-chan too! And I think Big Brother Yuki would be perfect!"
She smiled at Kotori, then turned her gaze back to Yuki. Her beautiful eyes swept over him as she asked with a bright, hopeful grin, "Hey, hey, hey! Yuki onii-chan!"
"Can I be your little sister too? Just like Kotori-chan, I could be your adopted little sister!"
She finished, her eyes brimming with anticipation as she looked at Yuki.
Hearing this, Kotori immediately sensed danger.
If Kaede joined in, wouldn't her own status be threatened?
Even though she knew her brother had his... harem, Kotori prided herself on her unique attribute as his official adopted little sister. It was a point of immense pride for her.
If another Kaede, or even Mahiru, were added to the mix, wouldn't her exclusive moe trait disappear?!
To prevent such a catastrophe, Kotori was absolutely determined not to let it happen.
The one who gets to call him 'onii-chan'... should only be me!!!
Kotori fumed internally.
She promptly scurried over to Yuki's side and started pushing him towards the door.
"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore!" she declared, cutting off any further conversation between Yuki and Kaede.
"Now that Kaede's message has been delivered, we should get going! Onii-chan!"
"There's a lot to do at home today, so we need to head back early."
Kotori kept talking, successfully interrupting them.
"Huh? Big Brother Yuki, is something going on at your house?" Kaede asked, a look of concern crossing her face as she turned to Yuki.
Yuki, seeing right through Kotori's little scheme, couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
"It's nothing, Kaede, don't worry."
"We'll be off now!"
"See you tomorrow, Kaede, Mahiru."
Yuki bid farewell to the Azusagawa sisters.
Though they were a bit disappointed not to get a clearer answer, the two sisters still remembered to wave goodbye.
"See you tomorrow, Big Brother Yuki!" they chimed in unison.
With Kotori practically shoving him, Yuki left the classroom, met up with Origami Tobiichi and the others, and they all headed out of school together.
The whole way, Kotori kept her eyes glued to Yuki, looking for all the world like she was trying to keep her big brother under close guard.
Marin Kitagawa, walking beside them, looked puzzled.
"Kotori-chan has been like this since we came out. What happened?" she asked.
Seeing this, Yuki didn't answer, merely offering a calm smile.
It was Origami Tobiichi who, with her usual composure, answered Marin's question.
"Right now, Kotori is like a little puppy guarding its food."
"Afraid someone else will take it away."
Everyone hearing Origami's words couldn't help but pause for a second, their expressions slightly stunned.
It was rare for Origami Tobiichi to speak without any... suggestive undertones.
But that particular analogy wasn't one Kotori could readily accept.
'A puppy guarding its food?! She, Kotori, was not a puppy!!!'
Dissatisfied with the comparison, Kotori shot Origami a glare.
This glare, however, had absolutely no effect on Origami. It was completely ignored.
As for Marin Kitagawa, it took her a moment to process it.
When she finally did, she instantly understood that the 'food' Origami was referring to was Yuki.
In that instant, the young girl's heart suddenly turned inward, thinking about herself.
'No way?! Could Yuki-kun's little sister already know how I feel about him?!
Is that why she's making that face? To warn me off?!'
The moment this possibility crossed her mind, Marin Kitagawa's heart tightened with nerves.
She turned it over and over in her head. If she wanted to be with Yuki, it seemed she'd have to get past his sister, Kotori, first.
Following this train of thought, the girl began pondering how to win over her future sister-in-law.
As for Kotori, she was busy thinking about how to solidify her role as the little sister.
She needed to make sure she remained the one and only little sister in his... harem.
As for what was occupying Origami Tobiichi's mind right now... it's better left unsaid.
Yuki, meanwhile, had already sensed several new presences in the house, a flicker of anticipation stirring within him.
A little over ten minutes later, Yuki and the three girls arrived home.
The moment Yuki stepped through the entryway and into the living room, a voice filled with coquettish charm, melodious and enticing as a song, drifted over, accompanied by a light, playful laugh.
"Mmm, fufufu~~~"
"My, my! You're finally back, my dear Mr. Yuki!"
Following the voice, they saw a young woman dressed in a mysterious black gothic-style gown, smiling as she looked at the group.
Her long black hair was tied into two braids that rested gracefully on her shoulders. Her slender frame looked almost fragile, as if it might break with the slightest pressure.
A waterfall of bangs covered the astonishingly beautiful left half of her face, leaving only a wine-red right eye visible.
Lips as tender and delicate as cherry blossoms held a devilish charm capable of captivating a man with just a single glance.
Her skin was pale and smooth as pearl. Two long, slender legs, temptingly sheathed in black stockings, were neatly pressed together with elegant poise.
This young woman was none other than the famous Spirit from Date A Live, Kurumi Tokisaki.
"Calling me that so formally? San-chan, seems you've changed," Yuki replied with a slight smile, his tone teasing.
"My, my, I haven't changed at all~~~" Kurumi said, the corner of her mouth curling upwards as she slowly approached Yuki.
"It's just that someone has been absent for too long, so it feels a little unfamiliar~~~"
She gently placed her hands on Yuki's shoulders.
Leaning in close, she tilted her head back to look up at him.
A complex swirl of emotion, tinged with an indescribable excitement and anticipation, danced in her wine-red right eye.
Clearly, seeing Yuki again filled Kurumi with immense joy and exhilaration.
Watching from the side, Kotori couldn't help but give a slight pout.
Even though she'd heard all about Kurumi and the others, seeing her act so intimately with her brother right in front of her still left Kotori feeling a bit... displeased.
"Alright, that's my fault."
"But you can't blame me entirely, San-chan," Yuki said softly, one arm naturally wrapping around Kurumi's slender waist while his other hand lightly lifted her chin.
Feeling that familiar warmth again, Kurumi's smile widened uncontrollably, a faint blush coloring her exquisitely, devilishly charming face.
"In that case... I suppose I can forgive you~" she said.
Seizing the moment, Kurumi quickly leaned in and planted a fleeting, butterfly-like kiss on Yuki's cheek before swiftly pulling away.
"And it's not just me, you know? Everyone else has been waiting for you too!"
With that, Kurumi took Yuki's hand and led him further into the living room.
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